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Press material Monday 28 February 2022   ● Council of the EU   28/02/2022 18:19 | Press release | Presidency press release - Conference on the Future of Europe: final set of European Citizens’ Panel recommendations   The final meeting of the Panel on ‘A stronger economy, social justice and jobs / Education, culture, youth and sport / Digital transformation’ took place in Dublin over the weekend. The last remaining set of recommendations from the four European Citizens’ Panels of the Conference on the Future of Europe were delivered on Sunday. The Panel on ‘A stronger economy, social justice and jobs / Education, culture, youth and sport / Digital transformation’ held its third and final meeting at Dublin Castle on 25-27 February, hosted by the Institute for International and European Affairs (IIEA). There, around 200 European citizens adopted 48 recommendations, building on their previous work done in Strasbourg in September and online in November, across five work streams: Working in Europe, An Economy for the Future, A Just Society, Learning in Europe, and An Ethical and Safe Digital Transformation. The participants also expressed their solidarity with the citizens of Ukraine on several occasions through their interventions at the weekend and during the ‘family photo’. Watch recordings of the Panel’s plenary meetings from Friday and Sunday. Next steps Eighty Panel representatives (20 from each of the four Panels, of which at least one-third is aged between 16 and 25 years) have been tasked with representing the Panels at the Conference Plenary, where the Conference’s final proposals will be shaped. All four Panels have now finalised their recommendations. The three preceding ones were: on European democracy, values and rights, rule of law and security; on climate change, environment and health; and on EU in the world / Migration. The first two sets were debated at the Conference Plenary of 21-22 January, whereas the other two are expected to be debated in Strasbourg on 11-12 March. The Plenary’s final proposals will be presented to the Executive Board of the Conference in the spring. Background The four European Citizens’ Panels take into account citizens’ contributions collected from across Europe via the multilingual digital platform and events held across the Member States. The work of the Panels is also supported by presentations from prominent academics and other experts. Panellists were randomly selected by specialist contractors, who ensured that they reflected the EU’s diversity in terms of geographic origin, gender, age, socioeconomic background and level of education. EU citizens’ contributions to the Conference, submitted via the multilingual digital platform by 20 February, will be included in a final report on 17 March. However, the possibility to submit contributions on the platform remains open, to allow debate to continue online, and that contributions introduced after 20 February may be covered by a final report after 9 May. Process of the Conference on the Future of Europe Timeline of the Conference on the Future of Europe Press material Monday 28 February 2022   ● Council of the EU   28/02/2022 17:40 | Press release | EU adopts new set of measures to respond to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine   In view of Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine and the escalating situation, the Council today agreed on a new set of measures that will impose severe consequences on Russia for its actions. Such decisions was agreed in close coordination with EU's partners and allies. Firstly the Council adopted two assistances measures under the European Peace Facility (EPF) that will contribute to strengthening the capabilities and resilience of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country, and protect the civilian population against the ongoing military aggression. The assistance measures, worth in total EUR 500 000 000, will finance the provision of equipment and supplies to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including - for the first time - lethal equipment. "Following the request by Foreign Affairs Minister of Ukraine, we are immediately responding by mobilising the European Peace Facility for two emergency assistance measures to finance the supply of lethal and non-lethal material to the Ukrainian army. This is the first time in history that the EU will be providing lethal equipment to a third country. We are doing everything we can to support Ukraine, we stand by the Ukrainian people." High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Secondly, the Council adopted severe restrictive measures related to aviation and finance. EU member states will deny permission to land in, take off from or overfly their territories to any aircraft operated by Russian air carriers, including as a marketing carrier, or to any Russian registered aircraft, or to non-Russian registered aircraft which are owned or chartered, or otherwise controlled by a Russian legal or natural person. Moreover, it will be prohibited to make transactions with the Russian Central Bank or any legal person, entity or body acting on behalf or at the direction of the Russian Central Bank. The European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms the Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine, as well as the involvement of Belarus in this aggression. The European Union demands that Russia immediately ceases its military actions, unconditionally withdraws all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine and fully respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within its internationally recognised borders. The European Council calls on Russia and Russia-backed armed formations to respect international humanitarian law and stop their disinformation campaign and cyber-attacks. The use of force and coercion to change borders has no place in the 21st century. Tensions and conflict should be resolved exclusively through dialogue and diplomacy. The EU will continue cooperating closely with neighbours and reiterates its unwavering support for, and commitment to, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and of the Republic of Moldova. It will continue strong coordination with partners and allies, within the UN, OSCE, NATO and the G7. Official Journal of the European Union, L 057, 28 February 2022 Official Journal of the European Union, L 060, 28 February 2022 Official Journal of the European Union, L 061, 28 February 2022 Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine: EU imposes sanctions against President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov and adopts wide ranging individual and economic sanctions (press release, 25 February 2022) EU adopts package of sanctions in response to Russian recognition of the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine and sending of troops into the region (press release, 23 February 2022) European Council conclusions, 24 February 2022 G7 Leaders’ Statement on the invasion of Ukraine by armed forces of the Russian Federation, 24 February 2022 Ukraine: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the invasion of Ukraine by armed forces of the Russian Federation, 24 February 2022 EU restrictive measures in response to the crisis in Ukraine (background information)

Meetings Monday 28 February 2022

● Council of the EU   28/02/2022 18:22 | MEETING | Main results - Informal video conference of foreign affairs (defence) ministers, 28 February 2022   EU defence ministers met via video conference to discuss the latest situation on the ground in Ukraine, following Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military invasion. During the discussion ministers referred to efforts already underway and their intention to step up support in the coming days and weeks.

•  Council of the EU

Informal video conference of foreign affairs (defence) ministers, 28 February 2022

Main results

EU defence ministers met via video conference to discuss the latest situation on the ground in Ukraine, following Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military invasion. During the discussion ministers referred to efforts already underway and their intention to step up support in the coming days and weeks.

Our support to Ukrainian Armed Forces is crucial and is needed now. Everyone agrees on that. Member states are determined to increase their bilateral military support to Ukraine, to repel the unacceptable actions by Putin.

Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

The unprecedented support package adopted under the European Peace facility will help Ukrainian armed forces to defend Ukraine's territorial integrity and population. This includes a €450 million support package for the provision of lethal assistance for defensive purpose and a €50 million support package for the provision of non-lethal supplies.

At the request of Ukraine, the EU will also provide geospatial intelligence through the EU satellite center.

The EU will continue to engage with and provide support to other countries in the region, including Moldova, Georgia and countries in the Western Balkans.

Meeting information

• Meeting n°VTC-FAC280222
 
• Video conference
 
• 28 February 2022
 
• 12:30

Outcome documents

• List of participants